Envelop-sealing and stamp-affixing machine.



J. J. McDADE.

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, I911.

Fatented fiept. 14, 1915.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET I.

1.]. McDADE.

, ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8, 19!].

Patented Sept. 14

i0 SHEETS-SHED 2- J. J McDADE.

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXJNG MACHINE.

H APPLICATION FILED MAR- 8' I911- fifip Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

I0 SHEETS-r-SHEE] 3.

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J. J. McDAUE.

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLlCATION FILED MAR. 8. 9H.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

10 SHEETSSHEET 4.

v 1.1. McDADE.

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. 1911.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

HIDE

W l w J. J. McDADE. ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. I91].

' Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

Z15 1 N I 27 JQJ. McDADE.

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8.19||.

5 Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET I.

J. J. McDADE. ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

' APPLICATION FILED MAR. B. 1911.

'. Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

10 SHEETSSHEE18.

J. J. McDADE.

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8. 1911.

J. J. McDADE.

ENVELOP SEALING AND STAMP AFFIXING MACHINE.

Patented Sept. 14, 1915.

I0 SHEETS-SHEET 10- APPLICATION FILED MAR. 8 19H.

Mr I

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.roniv r. neuter, or can rnnn'crsco, canrrenurnh ENVELDP-SEALIN'G ANDSTAMP-ENG- MACHINE.

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specification of letters Eatent. Patented dept, lll, dhtlfi.

Application filed March a, 19111. fierlal lt'o. 613,1.

To all whom it may concern.

Be it known that T, JOHN J. MGDAPE, a citizen of the United States, anda r sident of the city and county of San Francisc and State ofCalifornia,haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Envelop-Sealingand Stamp-Afiixing- Machines, of which the following is a specification.

' The invention relates to machines for sealing envelops and aflixingstamps thereto and more particularly to machines which are automatic inoperation and which perform 1 the successive steps of sealing andstamping the envelop as it is carried through the machine.

The object of the invention as a whole is to provide a machine oftheclass described which is simple in construction and which operateswith a high degree of efficiency and reliability.

- Another object ofthe invention is to promeans for feeding the envelopssingly into til the

the sealing and stamping mechanism.

A further object of theinvention is the provision of an improvedmoistening device and means for guiding the envelop as it passes themoistener.

A further object is to provide a stamp affixing mechanism which isarranged to be operated during the period that the envelop is held atrest by the sealing mechanism after the sealing operation has beenpenformed.

A further object is toprovide regulating means governed by the passageof. the envelop for throwing the stamp afl'ixing mechanism in or out ofoperation.

Another object of the invention is to provide driving mechanism for thefeed and sealing rollers which is arranged to advance the envelop to theproper position, and hold it in such position during the stamp affirl'ngoperation. I

The present machine comprises and the invention'includes an improvedfeed-table whereby the envelops into which the mail matter has beenplacedare maintained in such position that the end envelop is always inpos1t1on to he extracted from the stack and fed into the machine. Theenvelops areplaced in an upright position on the feed table with theflap end of the envelop upward and the back or flap-side of the envelopfacing the extracting device. The envelops are alined on the table bycausing the front or leading ends thereof to contact with a lip on theside of the plate, thereby causing each envelop to be fed into thesealing and stamping mechanism with the front or 'leading edge in thesame relation to the extractor-plate,"regardless of the size of theenvelop. The extractor plate is caused to move vertically in such a paththatin its upward movement it will engage the end envelop and lift itfrom the stack. The extractor plate is then brought into position, sothat the envelop may be fed into the sealing mechanis The sealingmechanism comprises among other parts a guide plate over which theenvelop rides, feeding rollers, and a moistening device for moisteningthe gum on the flap and sealing rollers for securely sealing the flap tothe body of the envelop. The mechanism for drivin the feeding andsealing rollers is provide with a clutch operating automatically to stopthe movement of the rollers when the envelop has been moved the requireddistance so that the forward end is in position to receive the stamp.

The device for afixing the stamp comprises a mechanism into which thestamps are fed from a roll and which operates to tear the stamp from thestrip along the line of perforation to moisten the stamp and to properlyafix it to the envelop Another feature of the invention consists I of anautomatic control mechanism which is thrown into operation when theenvelops are not passing through the machine to halt the operation ofthe stamp adixer. This control mechanism acts to throw the stamp afiixerout of operation when there is no envelop passing through the sealer orwith the stamp afixer in inoperative relation to throw it into operationwith the passage of an en velop.

The invention consists also of novel means for adjusting and feeding theen velops when they are initially placed in or Y on the machine.-

lit consists further of a novel construction I with the feeding rollers.

It consists further of a novel construction of a moistening device bymeans of which only the flap of the envelop will be moistened and theenvelop advanced to suitable flap-bending members before it passesbetween the sealing rollers provided therefor.

It further consists of novel means for holding the envelop in astationary position during a predetermined interval to allow the stampafiixer mechanism to apply the stamp to the envelop.

It consists further of a novel construction of stamp-feeding mechanismand noyel means for rendering the same inoperative when desired.

It consists further of novel means for removing an envelop from themachine after the same has been scaled and stamped.

It further consists of novel means for arranging and correlating theenvelop feeding mechanism, the sealing rollers, the holding means, thestamping mechanism, the envelop discharging mechanism and the radjuncts, whereby when the machine 1s m operation the difierentoperations hereinbefore mentioned are simultaneously carried out.

The; apparatus possesses other advantageous'features, which, with theforegoing, will be set forth at length in the following descriptionWhere I shall outline in full that form or embodiment of my inventionwhich I have selected for illustration in the drawing accompanying andforming part of the present specification.

From this it willbe apparent that I do not restrict myself to theshowing made by such drawings and descriptions, as it is evident thatmany variations and changes stack of envelops in position, and therelative position of the selector plate with re gard to the firstenvelop. Fig. 6 is a plan or top-view of the operating mechanism for thevarious devices. Fig. 7 is a detail of that part of the plate againstwhich the envelop is pressed during the stamp-affixing operation. Figs.8, 9 and 10 are details of the feed mechanism for removing the envelopsfrom'the stack; Figs. 8 and 9 being end views of the apparatus in thelowered and raised positions and Fig. 10 being a side view of theapparatus in the lowered position. Fig. 11 is a side elevation of thefeeding and sealing rollers and the moistening device, part of thereceptacle and pressure springs being broken away. Fig. 12 is a plan ortop view of the feeding and sealing rollers, the moistening device andthe pressure springs for closing the moistened flap against the body.Fig. 13 is a detail of a clutch and cut out mechanism for operating thefeed and sealing rollers. Figs. l4, l5 and 16 are details of the camgearused in the mechanism shown in Fig. 13; Figs. 14 and 15 being elevationsof the opposite sides, and Fig. 16 being a partial end view showing thecams on opposite sides of the gear. Fig. 17 is an elevation of thescaling mechanism showing the means for automatically throwing the stampstrip out of contact with the stamp allixer. Fig. 18 is a plan or topview of the mechanism shown in Fig. 17. Figs. 19 and 20 are details ofthe mechanism by which the stamp-strip is disengaged from thestamp-allixing ITIOCllillllSlX'l. Figs. 21, 22,- 23 and 2 are detailviews of the stamp-afiixerin four dillerent positions, showing thesuccessive steps of gripping, drawing, moistening, severing and allixingthe stamp. Fig. 25 is a detail of the mechanism for locking the gripperjaws through which the stamp-strip passes.

Referring to the drawings, in the detailed description of my novelenvelop scaling and stamp affixing machine, it will be understood that Ihave shown but one embodiment of the broad principle of my invention,since it is apparent that the same may be carried out in various formsof mechanisms or organizations without departing from the spirit of myinvention.

The present invention in its entirety comprises several distinct sets ofmechanism which cooperate and are dependent on each other to produce theultimate objects or results sought for, and I will, therefore, dcscribeeach of the same in detail and in the natural or logical sequence inwhich they are thrown into operation.

The frame of the machine consists preferably of a horizontal base plate2, which is held a sutlicient distance above the surface or table uponwhich the machine is placed. by the legs 3, to allow the various gearsand driving mechanism to be arranged below the bed. The main drivingshaft t, to which power is applied to drive the mechanism, is arrangedbelow the bed .2 and is suitably journaled in the bearings 5-(3 whichare supported from the bed, and the various gears for driving themechanisms are connected or secured thereto.

The envelop feeding mccham'sm.I will an inclined table 8 in an uprightmenses with the ha and upward and the ap tacing-the mec anism which isarranged to remove the envelops from the stac. The envelops are arrangedso that the edges or the envelops bear against a lip 9 on the inner sideof the table, thereby holding the front or entering edges of theenvelops alined and in proper relationto the remainder of the feedingmechanism so that the separate envelops are fed to the rolls in theproper position.

The forward envelop, or that one which is in position to be removed fromthe stack, bears against a lip 12 on the lower end of the table, and isthereby held in the proper position. The remaining envelops of the stackare held in position against the leading one and are advanced as theforward ones are removed by means of the roller 13,-

which rolls on the table 8 and is guided by the slot 14 in the table. Tnthis manner a positive feed of the envelops toward the lip 12 isinsured.

Tn 1F ig. 5 is shown a side elevation of the iteed table 8 with a stackof envelops in position showing the position of the extractor plate 15which operates with other mechanism toremove the forward envelop fromthe stack and feed it into the machine. The flap of the envelop willprotrude slightly 4 from the back of the envelop, due to the material inthe envelop and the extractor plate 15 is arranged to enter under theflap and lift the envelop from the stack and clear of the lip 12.

The mechanism for operating the extractor plate 15 is shown in Figs. 8,9 and 10, wherein the rnechanism is shown in various operativepositions.

The plate 15 which may be of any desired shape is provided with asharpened or chamtered top edge 16 for entering under the flap oftheenvelop. The plate is carried by the bracket 17 which is secured to avertically disposed bar or plate 18. Vertical motion is imparted to thebar, 18 by means of a lever 19, engaging a slot 21 in the lower portionof the bar. The lever 19 is pivoted to the bracket 22 secured to thelower side of the bed and is operated by -is in contact with the stoppiece 25, a toot 27 which is pulled toward the plate 15 hy the, spring28 is released by means of the pawl 29, disengaging the ratchet 31 onthe ipot. The pawl 29 1s tripped by the opposite end thereof coming incontact with the stop-piece 25. The foot 27 springs aainst the flap ofthe envelop and presses it rmly against the plate 15, thereby holdingthe envelop perfectly alined. The plate 15 is then lowered carrying theenvelop with it in the downward movement. When the plate has reached itslowest position, the plate 32, carrying the cam 33, has revolved to.such a position that the cam 33 comes in contact with the lower end ofthe lever 34, with the edect of moving the foot-piece away from theenvelop and setting the awl 29 in contact with the ratchet 31. T eenvelop now rests freely on the selector. plate and is in position to befed to the moistening" and sealing device. The plate 32 carrying the cam33 is mounted on the shaft 39 which is arranged below the bed andconnected to the main shaft 4 by suitable means so that it makes onecomplete revolution for one complete operation of the selector plate 15.

The envelops are so arranged in position on the feed table 8 that whenthey are carried downward by the selector plate, the upper edge of thecarrier-plate 35 enters between the flap and the body of the envelop atits forward or leading end, and acts as a guide for the envelop as itpasses the moistening and sealing devices. The guide plate 35 is fixedto the bed so that it stands substantially perpendicular thereto, and isarranged In line with the selector platelh. The upper edge of the guideplate 35 lies in the same planewith the upper edge of the selectorplate, when the last named member is in the lower position, and theadjacent edges of the two plates occur close together, so that theenvelop can readily pass from the selector plate to the guide plate.

The medium; feed.For the purpose of feeding the envelops from theselector plate to the main-feeding rollers, l have arranged a pair ofauxiliary feed rollers 3738 on opposite sides of the selector-plate. lhave used the term auxiliary merely for convenience and not for thepurpose of description, and said rolls are not to be consideredsecondary in any sense. The selector plate is cut away at the lower partof the forward edge and the rollers are arranged on opposite sides ofthe plate at such cut away portion, so that the rolls may engage theenvelop on both sides and feed it forward.

the disk 47.

The rolls 3738 are mounted on the vertical shafts 41-42 which arerotated from the main driving shaft. The shaft 42 carrying roll isarranged to be moved laterally to separate the rolls to allow theenvelop to enter between them, and to be brought together to engage theenvelop and feed it forward at the required time in the operation of themachine.

The shaft 42 is moved laterally by means of a lever 43 pivoted at 44 tothe lower slde of the bed. The lever is provided W1th a forked end 45for engaging the shaft 42 and is moved by means of the cam 46 on. thedisk 47 on theshaft 39. The operation. of the cam 46 is timed so thatthe rolls Will be brought together at the proper time and be heldtogether during the proper interval to feed the envelop forward.

The roll 38 is pressed toward. roll 37 and against the envelop by meansof the coiled spring 48 which bears against the bracket 49 secured tothe bed and against the shaft 42. The pin 51 on the end of lever 43,therefore, continually bears against the face of The disk 47 is providedwith an aperture 52 through which the pin 51 drops allowing the roller38 to mo e toward roller 37. The cam 46 lying opposite such apertureengages the pin 51 and movestt back to the face of the disk when therolls 3738 have been in contact with the envei op for a sufficient timeto properly advance it to the main feeding rollers. The aperture 52 inthe disk 47 is so placed that the rolls are pressediagainst the envelopas soon as the selector plate 15 has come to rest in 1ts lower positionand the clamping foot 27 has been withdrawn. The shaft 39 must,therefore, make one complete revolution for each complete cycle of theselector apparatus. As the-envelop is fed forward, it advances with theupper edge under the flap in contact with the guide plate 35.

The shaft 41 carrying the roller 37 is r0- tated by means of the chain53 which meshes with the sprocket wheel 54 on the shaft 41. Mounted onshafts 41-42 are two similar gears 5556 which are thrown into mesh whenthe rollers 3738 are pressed against the envelop and cause the rollersto rotate at the same speed. The teeth of these gears are long so thatthey will mesh properly regardless of the thickness of the filledenvelops. By the mechanism just described, the envelops are carriedforward from the selector plate to the main feeding rollers.

The feeding, moistening and sealing dem70e.-The main feeding rollers5758 are arranged on opposite sides of the guide plate which isapertured adjacent to the rollers, to allow the pressure exerted therebyto be expended in pressing the envelop and not in pressing the envelopagainst the guide plate. The roller 57 is mounted so spring.

that it is capable of a limited lateral movement, so that it may adJustits position to accommodate envelops of various thicknesses. It isevident that only one of these rollers need be adjustable as all of thefilled envelop, with the exception of the sealing flap, lies on one sideof the guide plate. The adjustable roller is preferably pressed againstthe other roller by means of a fiat The shafts carrying the rollers57-58 are provided on their lower ends, beneath the bed, with gearwheels 61-62, which engage each other to cause an equal rotation of thetwo rollers. The teeth of these gears are sul'iiciently long to allowthe gear 62 to be moved laterally the required distancewithout throwingthe gears out of mesh. The shaft carrying roller 58 is provided with asprocket wheel 63which is engaged by the chain 64, whereby the feedingrollers are rotated. The connections between this chain and the maindriving shaft 4 will be explained hereinafter.

The moistening device is arranged on that side of the guide plate 35, onwhich the flap of the envelop lies, and is arranged to moisten only theunder side of the flap, not allowing the moisture to come in contactwith the contents or the body of the envelop before sealing. Themoistening device consists of a pad 65 attached to one side of the guideplate near its end and means for supplying moisture to the pad. The padconsists preferably of a flat linen bag containing blotting paper, orother similar substance, which has the property of absorbing water andmaintaining itself in a moist condition. A receptacle (56 forsupplyingmoisture to the pad is arranged on the bed plate I and isprovided with means for refilling when the water supply becomesexhausted. The lower end of the pad lies in the water in the receptacleand the water is drawn upward to moisten the pad.

For the purpose of holding the flap of the envelop against the pad, andinsuring the proper moistening thereof, I have provided a spring finger67 which engages the outer side-of the flap and presses the gummed sideagainst the pad as the envelop passes. The edge of the pad and the edgeof the guide plate are substantially coincident, so that the flap of theenvelop may contact with the body thereof after it has been moistened.After passing the moistening pad and the guide plate, the upper portionof the envelop is engaged by the spring fingers 6869 which bring theflap properly in contact with the body of the envelop and cause it toadhere thereto.

As the feeding rollers 57-58 continue to advance the envelop, theforward edge thereof passes between the sealing rollers 71-72 which actto press the flap tightly against the body of the envelop and eflilidintense ciently seal it. The roller 72 is arranged to have a limitedlateral motion in the same manner and for the same purpose as the feedroller 57.

a The sealing rollers are preferably of the same size and rotate at thesame speed as the feeding rollers and after they engage the envelop theyalso act as feeding rollers to carry the envelop through the machine.The

shafts carrying the sealing rollers are pro-, vided with the gear 737tof similar construction to gears, 6162. The power for driving thefeeding and auxiliary feed rollers is transferred from shaft 75,carrying roller 71, to the other shafts by means of the chain 84 whichengages the sprocket ?6 on the shaft 7 5. Power is applied to the shaft7 5 through the bevel gear 77 mounted thereon which meshes with thebevel gear 7 8 on the shaft 79 to which power is applied from the maindrive shaft 4, through the sprocket wheels 8182 and the chain 83. Thesprocket wheel 82 is mounted on shaft 84 which'is in line with shaft 79and is connected thereto by means of the clutch 85. The shaft 24carrying the cam 23 is rotated from the shaft 845 by means of gear 88 onshaft 8% and gear 87 on shaft 24.

As the sealing rollers revolve, the envelop is advanced until theleading end thereof comes into the proper position to receivethe postagestamp. At this point an automatic cut-out mechanism operates todisengage the feeding andsealing rollers from the driving shaft, withthe result that the envelop is held stationary in the proper positiondurin the stamp affixing operation. The enve ops are, therefore,advanced a given distance and then halted, the amount of move-- ment ofthe envelop always being the same,

regardless of the size of the envelop. it is evident that since theenvelope are initially fed into the device with the leading ends atthe'sam'e point, they will be halted with the leading ends at the samepoint, which is the proper point for afiixing the stamp to the face ofthe-envelop adjacent to the leading edge.

\ The out out mechanismL The cut out mechanism is arranged to start'andstop the rotation of the feeding and sealing rollers at proper times andto. cause the rollers to revolve to advance the envelop the requireddistance so that the leading or forward edge thereof is in properposition to receive the stamp. The cut-out mechanism comprises theclutch which is composed of the toothed wheels 8889, mountedrespectively on' the shafts 7 9 and 84, which wheels are adapted to beseparated to stop the rotation of the rolls. The toothed wheel 88 ismounted on the sleeve 91 which is keyed to and slidable longitudinallyon shaft 79. The sleeve 91 is moved by means of the lever 92 engagingtherewith and pivoted at 93. The

lever 92 is moved by means of the bar 94 which is slidable in the suports 95. The bar 94 is moved by means of t ecams 96--9i on oppositesides of the'gear 87. The bar 9a is provided with two pins 98-99 whichlie on opposite sides of the gear 87, in such position that they will bealternately en gaged by the cams 9897 with the result that the bar 94will be shifted back and forth to throw, the toothed wheels into and outof contact.

In Fig. 16 T have shown the relative position of the pins 98--99, andthe cams96-97. lVhen thecam 96 comes in contact with the pin 99 the bar94 is shifted to open the clutch. and stop the rotation of the rollersand when the gear 87 has revolved suficiently so that cam 97 comes incontact with pin 98 the bar is moved to close the clutch and the rollersare rotated. The gear 8? makes one revolution for each complete cycle ofthe selecting device, or. for each envelop that passes 3 through themachine. The cams 9697 are .so placed on the face of gear 87 that theyclutch will be closed only a sufficient length of time to allow theenvelop to be advanced the proper distance through the machine,

so that it is in position to receive the ostage stamp. The feeding andsealing rol ers remain stationary during the time in which the stampaffixing mechanism is operating to affix theistamp to. the envelop.While they are stationary, however, the selector plate has beenoperating to plate another envelop between the initial feed rollers, so

that when the clutch is closed and the rollers revolved, an envelop isbeing fed into the.

machine.

The stamp afim'ng deoice.-The stamp affixing device is mounted on thebed of the machine in such position that the stamp will be affixed atthe upper right hand corner of the envelop when the envelop is heldstationary by the rollers. The device is supported above the bed by thelegs 101 so that the stamp will be afiixed at the proper place. Thedevice is operated by means of the cam 102 to which motion is appliedfrom the main drive shaft 4: through the gears the face of the envelopfor a short interval to assure proper adhesion. Motion is transferredfrom thecam to the affixing device by means of the horizontally disposedrod 109,

which is provided with a small roller 113 which contacts with the faceof the cam.

The stamp afiixing device operates to draw the stamp strip 1141 from thestamp roll 115, to moisten the gummed portion of the stamp, sever itfrom the strip along the line of perforation and to securelv press itagainst the envelop.

The gripping jaws 116-117 are operated by the rod 109, which in itsdescending stroke first closes the upper jaw 116 upon the lower jaw 117gripping the stamp strip therebetween and then carries the same in anare under the presser foot 118 in which movement it draws the strip 114across and over the edge of the cutting blade 119 at a sharp angle andalso across the face of the moistening pad 121 situated adjacent to theblade. At such movement the end of the strip is brought forward and at asharp angle across the cutting blade 119 and a suflicient degree ofresistance to the movement of the strip is produced by the tension plate122, situated in advance of the blade, to cause the stamp to separatefrom the strip along the weakened line of the perforation by the strainthat is applied on the opposite side of the blade by the gripping jaws.The center 123 on which the jaws swing is situated at a proper distancefrom the position which the envelop occupies to let the jaws swing to anearly horizontal position, the extent of which is suflicient to placethe stamp under the presser foot, and allow the lower jaw room to openand release the stamp.

' The presser foot 118 is pivotally attached to the end of the rod 109,so that it may tilt and its outer end be caused to make contact with andpress one end of the stamp against the envelop a little in advance ofthe moment' that the opposite end thereof is released from the jaws. Thepresser foot bears against and slides along the upper surface of theupper jaw 116 during the forward movement of the rod 109.

The tilting movement of the presser foot 118 is effected by means of atoe-piece 124: fixed to the presser foot and extending laterally beyondits rear edge. The hooked end of the toe-piece enters an elongated slotin the jaw 116 and travels therein during the first part of the forwardmovement of the plunger and while the jaws retain their grip on thestamp the jaw frame 125 is being turned on its pivot 123. The toe-pieceis arrested by its contact with the jaws and causes the finger 126forming part of the presser foot to be advanced in front of the presserfoot to press the stamp against the envelop in advance of the presserfoot. A further movement of the presser foot causes the finger 126 to bemoved backward into the plane of the presser foot thereby causing thehooked end of the toe-piece 124 to bear against the jaw 117 and move itaway from jaw 116 to release the stamp. With the presser foot in thisposition, firmly pressing the stamp against the envelop, the roller 113is riding over that part of the cam 102 which 18 concentric with itscenter of rotation. The stamp is, therefore, held against the envelopfor a short interval of time to insure its adhesion. The roller 113 isheld against the cam 102 by means of a spring which returns the rod 109and releases the presser foot when the roller travels over the lowerpart of the cam.

The construction and operation of the stamp affixing device is morefully explained in my application, Serial Number 558,095, filed April28, 1910, and it is, therefore, be lieved that a more detaileddescription thereof is unnecessary in this application.

Arranged in the frame of the machine, in line with the presser foot, isthe head 127 fitted in a recess in the frame. This head 127 is so placedthat it lies on the opposite side of the envelop to the presser foot,and is arranged to exert a pressure against the presser foot to assistin insuring the proper adhesion of the stamp. The head 127 is looselymounted on the rod 128 so that the head can position itself for properoperation regardless of any irregularity in the thickness of the envelopdue to the matter inserted therein. I have arranged this head 127 sothatgit will lie in the recess at all times except when the stamp isbeing applied, so that it may not interfere with the passage of theenvelop through the machine. The rod carrying the head is pressedforward by means of a spring but such forward motion is restrainedexcept at the period mentioned by means of the cam wheel 129. This camwheel 129 is mounted on a shaft below the rod 128 and is rotated fromthe shaft 131 by means of the chain 132. Power is supplied to the shaft131 from the shaft 24 through suitable gearing.

A finger 133 on the end of rod 128 bears against the cam wheel 129 andholds the head 127 in the recess except when the cam has revolved toallow the finger to drop into the recess 134 therein, in which positionthe head is allowed to protrude beyond the face of the frame. The cam129 is so placed that the head protrudes only during that period of theoperation when the stamp is being affixed, after which it is drawn backinto the recess. The cam 129 makes one revolution for each completecycle of the machine. After the stamp has been affixed, the sealingrollers are again thrown into operation by the automatic cut outmechanism and the sealed and stamped envelop is discharged from themachine and drops down through the chute 135 where it may be gathered upfor mailing.

The stamp-strip out-out.-In Figs. 17, 18,

lid

, menace stamp-strip cut-out mechanism. This mechanism operates by thenon-passage of an envelop through the apparatus to remove thestamp-strip 11 lirom the stamp afixer mechanism, to prevent the stampsfrom being severed from the strip and wasted when there are no envelopein placeto receive them.- The operation of the mechanism is controlledby the movement 01: the roller 136 which is. in position to registerwithan opening in the guide plate 35. The roller 136 is mounted on thebracket 137 which is pivoted at its other end to the bed, so that theroller can swing in and out of said hole. A bar 138 attached to thebracket 13'? is engaged at its outer end by a spring 139 which tends topress the roller toward the opening in the guideplate.

The roller 136 is normallyheld away from the hole in the guide platebythe cam l ll engaging a pin 142 on the loar 13& During that time in theoperation oil the machine when an envelop should be engaging thatv partof the guide plate in which the hole occurs, the earn 141 has moved sothat the pin 142 lies adjacent to an apertured portion therein, so thatthe roller 136 isallowed to move toward said hole. When an envelop ispresent, however, the roller cannot move into said hole and thestamp-strip cutout does not operate. When no envelop is present, theroller 136 moves into the hole a suflicient distance to allow the pin142 to engage the cam M3 on the cam-plate 141, which during the partialrotation of the cam-plate 141, moves the roller farther into the hole.This positive movement of the bar 138 operates to move the device bywhich the stamp strip is lifted from the position, so that it will nothe gripped by the gripper jaws 116-417 of the stamp aifiner.

The stamp strip cut-out is operated by the movement of the lever 144,which is pivoted intermediate its ends to the frame of the machine, andwhich moves in a substantially horizontal plane. At one end the lever isprovided with a slot which engages a pin M5 fixed on the movable bar 138and the other end of the lever is broadened and warped or bent so thatitlies at an angle to the horizontal. lhe warped end of the lever 1 14.rides on the pin 161 on the vertical rod 146, so that as the lever 14%.-is moved on its pivot, the inclined end moving over the pin 161 causes avertical movement'ot the rod 14:6. The rod M6 is reduced in crosssection at its lower end in which the pin 161 is arranged, the shoulderformed between the reduced and full portions serving as a stop. to limitthe downward movement of the rod. in its elevated position. Pivoted tothe rod at its upper end is a. slotted lever 1t? through which the stampstrip is drawn. The lever is pivoted at 162 to a stationary part ot thedevice and as the rod 146 is depressed, the slotted end of the lever israised.

When the outer end of the lever 14'? is raised, the prongs of the levergrip the stamp strip and raise it out of contact with the gripper jawsof the stamp afinen- When the outer end of the'lever is depressed, itbrings the stamp strip within the range of the gripper jaws and theprongs are sepa rated by the pin 1 18, which'enters the slot in thelever between the prongs, thus allowing the stamp strip to be read lydrawn therethrougln The pin 14.8 is placed so that it enters between theends of the prongs and does not interfere, with the passage of the stampstrip.- When ation and no envelo In order to insure the depression ofthe lever 147, after it has been raised to removethe stamp strip fromthe range of the gripper jaws,'l employ the foot 1&9- attachcd to thelever 151. This foot bearsagainst the outer end of the forked lever 1t?and a downward movement thereof forces the lereadily drawn through, Thelever 151 is operated by means of a pin 152 on the gear 108 whichcontacts with the lever 151 and raises the outer end thereof. The pin152 is so placed on the gear 108 that it does not operate to depress thelever 1 17 until after the cam 143 has. returned the operating mechanismto its normal position. This occurs after the gripper jaws have beendepressed so that they will not contact with the stamp strip when it islowered.

ll claim:

1. in an envelop machine, a feed table upon which the em velops arearranged, means for removing the envelops singly from said feed table,means for removing the envelope from said removing means and feedingthem endwise to the main feed rollers, the main feed rollers; sealingrollers, a moistening pad arranged intermediate said'feed and sealingrollers, means for rotating said teed and'means for shining a envelop.

2. In an envelop sealing and stamping machine, a feed table on which theenvelope are adaptedto be arranged in a substantially vertical position,a vertically reciprocating selector late adapted to engage under theflap of t e leading envelop and remove it stamp to the sealed themachine is in operis passing the hole in p the guide plate, the ever 147is raised to lift the stamp strip beyond the range of the sealing andstamping and sealing rollers,

verdown onto the pin 148, and separates the prongs so that the stampstrip may be lltll ltd its 7 from the table on the upward stroke, meansfor clamping the envelop to the plate in its downward stroke, means forreleasing the clamp at the end of the downward stroke, a pair of feedrollers, means for feeding the envelop from said selector plate to thefeed rollers, a pair of sealing rollers, a moistening deviceintermediate said feedmg and sealing rollers and means for afiixing astamp to the sealed envelop.

3. In an envelop sealing and stamping machine, the combination of a feedtable, a vertically reciprocable selector plate adapted to remove theenvelope successively from said feed table, a guide plate having itsupper edge in line with the upper edge of the selector when saidselector is in the depressed position, rollers adjacent said selectorplate for feeding the envelop to said guide plate, a pair of mainfeeding rollers on opposite sides of said guide plate beyond saidfeeding rollers, a pair of sealing roll'ers beyond said moisteningdevice and a stamp afiixing device beyond said sealing rollers.

4. In an envelop sealing and stamping machine, the combination of a feedtable, a vertically reciprocable selector plate, auxiliary feed rollerson opposite sides of said plate, a guide plate in line with saidselector plate provided with an aperture, feed rollers on opposite sidesof said guide plate at the said aperture, a moistening pad on one sideof said guide plate, a pair of sealingrollers beyond and on, oppositesides of said guide plate, means for halting the rotation of saidsealing rollers at apredetermined time and means for affixing a stamp tothe envelop during said period of rest.

5. In an envelop sealing and stamping machine, sealing rollers, feedrollers arranged m advance of said seallng rollers,

means for revolving said rollers, means ar-.

ranged between said feed and sealing rollers for moistening the envelopfiap, a stamp affixing device, and means for halting the revolutionofsaid rollers while the envelop is between the sealing rollers.

6. In an envelop sealing and stamping machine, sealing rollers, feedrollers arranged in advance of said sealing rollers, means for revolvingsaid rollers, means for starting the revolution of said rollers when theenvelop is in position to be fed into the feed rollers and for haltingthe revolution of said rollers while the envelop is between the sealingrollers and means for affixing the stamp to the envelop while therollers are at rest.

7 In an envelop sealing and stamping machine, a driving shaft, a drivenshaft, a clutch between said shafts, envelop feeding and sealing rollersconnected to said driven shaft, :1 stamp affixing device and means0perated by the rotation of the driving shaft to operate the clutch tostart and stop the rotation of the rollers.

8. In an envelop sealing and stamping machine, a stamp ailixing deviceprovided with jaws for gripping the stamp, means for removing the stampfrom the range of said jaws during the non-passage of an envelop throughthe machine and means for feeding the envelop through the machine.

9. In an envelop sealing and stamping machine, a guide plate having anaperture therein over which the envelop passes, a roller adapted toregister with said a erture at a certain time in the operation 0 themachine, said roller being held out of said aperture at such time by theenvelop, a stamp afiixer, jaws therein for gripping the stamp strip andmeans adapted to be operated by the movement of the roller at such timewhen no envelop is passing over the aperture to raise the stamp stripfrom within range of the jaws of the stamp aflixer.

10. In an envelop sealing and stamping machine, a stamp afiixingmechanism having gripper aws a guide plate having an aperture therein, aroller held in close relation to said aperture, means for allowing theroller to move toward said aperture at a certain time in the operationof the machine, means for causing, a further movement of said rollerwhen. no envelop is passing over said aperture, said means operating toremove the stamp strip from within the range of the gripper jaws of thestamp afiixer.

11. In an envelop sealing and stamping machine, envelop feeding means, astamp affixer, gripper jaws for gripping the stamp, means for removingthe stamp from within a range of the gripper jaws of the stamp affixerwhen no envelop is passing through the machine, and means for returningthe stamp to its original position after the jaws have been depressed.

JOHN J. MoDADE.

Witnesses:

'H. G. Pnos'r,

P. S. Pmwnnn.

